US20090224937A1 - Device for remote reading of fluid meters - Google Patents

Device for remote reading of fluid meters Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090224937A1
US20090224937A1 US12/160,363 US16036307A US2009224937A1 US 20090224937 A1 US20090224937 A1 US 20090224937A1 US 16036307 A US16036307 A US 16036307A US 2009224937 A1 US2009224937 A1 US 2009224937A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
meter
remote reading
antenna
reading device
well
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/160,363
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English (en)
Inventor
Eric Gillette
Marc Guerquin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vigie Groupe SAS
Original Assignee
Suez Environnement SAS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Suez Environnement SAS filed Critical Suez Environnement SAS
Assigned to SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT reassignment SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GILLETTE, ERIC, GUERQUIN, MARC
Publication of US20090224937A1 publication Critical patent/US20090224937A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D4/00—Tariff metering apparatus
    • G01D4/002—Remote reading of utility meters
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C17/00—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
    • G08C17/02—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link using a radio link
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D4/00—Tariff metering apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C17/00—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02B90/20—Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y04—INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS
    • Y04S—SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS
    • Y04S20/00—Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
    • Y04S20/30—Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to devices for remote reading of fluid meters, for example water or gas meters, and more particularly to devices comprising a mechanical technology water meter, a transducer placed up against the meter and converting the mechanical movements of said meter into electrical pulses, an assembly for collecting electrical pulses comprising at least one radio transmitter for transmitting the information collected and an antenna.
  • the distribution service companies for water, gas or even electricity are led to measure the fluids they distribute on their networks.
  • the meter points are mainly customers' meters, whether these are direct billing meters, called main or primary meters, or distribution meters, called submeters in the world of water distribution.
  • metering points for example flow monitoring meters within the distribution network, or even points for measuring diverse parameters such as, for example, pressure or quality parameters.
  • meters may be located inside the properties of customers and/or in difficult to access inspection wells.
  • the electrical signal reader and the collector assembly are linked by an electrical wire seldom exceeding a few meters, on account of the impedances and signal quality losses in an electrical wire.
  • the module and the collector and radio transmitter assembly are particularly well suited to the meters situated in an apartment, where the radio transmission poses few problems. Conversely, they have proven more difficult to use in basements, where water meters are naturally installed in the case of buildings or detached houses. They have proven equally difficult to use in water meter wells where, beyond the depth below ground which reduces the transmission qualities of probes, the presence of a well cover accentuates these constraints.
  • a device for remote reading of a fluid meter comprising a mechanical meter, a transducer placed up against the meter and converting the mechanical movements of said meter into electrical pulses, an assembly for collecting electrical pulses comprising at least one radio transmitter for transmitting the information collected and an antenna, which is characterized in that said collector assembly is positioned up against the transducer to which it is joined, in that the same energy source ensures the power supply to the transducer and to the assembly, and in that said antenna is connected to said at least one radio transmitter by means of a cable, such that the antenna may be placed at a distance from the meter.
  • said collector assembly and the transducer are positioned in such a way that they can be integrated in the same case and are driven by a common electronic card.
  • said antenna is positioned in the upper part of said well.
  • said antenna is integrated with the well cover of said well.
  • said antenna consists of the well cover of the well.
  • the well cover is made of an electrically nonconductive material
  • said antenna is built into or molded into said well cover.
  • the meter In all the preceding cases where the meter is positioned in a well equipped with a well cover, the latter will be able to comprise, on its inner face, a connector linked to one end of the antenna and into which the radio cable for linking to the transmitter can be plugged.
  • said cable is a coaxial cable.
  • said energy source is chosen from among primary cells and/or batteries.
  • said radio transmitter operates at free frequencies.
  • said radio transmitter operates at a dedicated frequency.
  • the power of said radio transmitter may be greater than the maximum limit permitted for a transmitter at free frequencies.
  • the remote reading device additionally comprises a radio receiver enabling communication between the device and a collection center and vice versa.
  • the remote reading device enables information to be received from said center and especially a timestamp.
  • FIG. 1 shows a device according to the present invention for which the assembly for collecting electrical pulses comprising a radio transmitter and the transducer placed on the volume meter are integrated and the antenna is offset;
  • FIG. 2 shows a device according to the present invention, conforming with FIG. 1 , positioned in a well equipped with a metal well cover acting as an antenna;
  • FIG. 3 shows, viewed from above, a well cover made of an electrically nonconductive material and into which said antenna is molded;
  • FIG. 4 shows the operating schema of a device according to the invention comprising a transmitter and a radio receiver.
  • FIG. 1 shows a device for remote reading of a volume meter for a fluid, in particular water, according to the invention, comprising a mechanical meter 1 , a transducer 2 placed up against the meter 1 and converting the mechanical movements of said meter 1 into electrical pulses, an assembly for collecting electrical pulses 3 comprising at least one radio transmitter for transmitting the information collected, and an antenna 4 .
  • This device is designed such that said collector assembly 3 is positioned up against the transducer 2 to which it is joined, and that the same energy source ensures the power supply to the transducer and to the assembly 3 .
  • said antenna is connected to the radio transmitter by means of a cable 6 , such that the antenna may be placed at a distance from the meter.
  • said collector assembly 3 and the transducer 2 are, in addition, positioned so as to be able to be integrated in the same unit or case 5 and are driven by a common electronic card.
  • the transfer of the electrical pulses generated by the transducer 2 to the collector assembly 3 is therefore carried out in a direct manner.
  • This device eliminates all the drawbacks previously set out and produces significant economies by minimizing the production cost of the device and by reducing maintenance and consumption to a minimum.
  • the cable 6 linking the antenna 4 to the collector device 3 is a coaxial cable.
  • the device according to the invention may use a radio operating at a free frequency or a dedicated frequency.
  • a dedicated frequency In the case of free frequencies, in particular in an urban environment, the range of such a device is only a few tens of meters whereas it reaches 500 meters to 1 kilometer with a transmitter power of about ten watts at a dedicated frequency. In an open field, i.e. with low urbanization, the range of the device at a dedicated frequency may reach several kilometers. It is therefore possible to reduce the number of repeaters, or even to eliminate them. These repeaters are located to pick up and transmit the information received from a meter through to a collection center. By increasing the range of the transmitters, it is therefore possible to reduce the use of receivers and hence also to reduce the cost of an installation.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a typical example of the flexibility of the use and installation provided by the device according to the invention.
  • the water volume meter 1 is installed in a buried well 7 , equipped with a well cover 8 . It is therefore possible to use this well cover 8 as an antenna 4 by connecting it by means of the cable 6 to the collector assembly 3 .
  • a connector 9 may be provided, located on the well cover 7 and into which the radio cable 6 for linking to the transmitter can be plugged.
  • said antenna 4 is then built into or molded into said well cover 8 ( FIG. 3 ).
  • a connector 9 is provided, linked to one end of the antenna 4 and into which the radio cable 6 for linking to the transmitter can be plugged.
  • the well cover 8 is used as the antenna 4 or as the support for an antenna 4 makes it possible, in the case of a buried water meter 1 , to have a starting point of the radio wave situated at ground level and no longer a certain distance below the ground. This arrangement allows the efficiency of the communication between the transmitter and the receiver to be improved.
  • the device will allow easier installation. This is because the technician will no longer have to operate in the well to attach an antenna or a radio unit, which is sometimes difficult due to the difficulty of accessing the interior of the well. It suffices to fit the meter according to the invention and to connect the cable to the well cover in the case of a metal well cover, and perhaps to replace the well cover with another where a connector will be located. It is the same for wells with a well cover that is not an electrical conductor. Simply replacing the well cover with a well cover such as shown in FIG. 3 will enable straightforward connection of the meter to its antenna and a practical installation of the whole device.
  • FIG. 4 shows the operating schema of a use of the device according to the invention for which the collector assembly 3 additionally comprises a radio receiver enabling communication between the device and a collection center and vice versa.
  • a repeater 10 between the meter 1 and the center, for example on the roof of a building 11 so as to be able to receive information from the meter and transfer it through to the center and vice versa.
  • This arrangement is characteristic for systems operating at a free frequency, whereas the uses with dedicated frequency allow these constraints to be reduced or even eliminated.
  • adding a receiver makes it possible to communicate with the meter and hence, for example, to have a solution for timestamping the meter and consequently to be able to create a network of meters, known as “blue” meters, timestamped so as to create a blue period in which consumption is billed at a preferential price.
  • the invention thus described is perfectly suited to the distribution of water, but the technology can be perfectly transposed to any other fluid with a mechanically measured flow rate, such as gas for example.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
  • Details Of Flowmeters (AREA)
  • Compounds Of Unknown Constitution (AREA)
  • Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
US12/160,363 2006-01-10 2007-01-09 Device for remote reading of fluid meters Abandoned US20090224937A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0600191A FR2896069B1 (fr) 2006-01-10 2006-01-10 Dispositif de tele-releve de compteurs de fluide.
FR0600191 2006-01-10
PCT/FR2007/000032 WO2007080310A1 (fr) 2006-01-10 2007-01-09 Dispositif de tele-releve de compteurs de fluide

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090224937A1 true US20090224937A1 (en) 2009-09-10

Family

ID=36940395

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/160,363 Abandoned US20090224937A1 (en) 2006-01-10 2007-01-09 Device for remote reading of fluid meters

Country Status (13)

Country Link
US (1) US20090224937A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1994515A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2009522568A (fr)
KR (1) KR20080097398A (fr)
CN (1) CN101371279A (fr)
AU (1) AU2007204297A1 (fr)
BR (1) BRPI0706440A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2636502A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2896069B1 (fr)
MA (1) MA30149B1 (fr)
TN (1) TNSN08293A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2007080310A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA200805611B (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100302061A1 (en) * 2003-06-13 2010-12-02 Arad Measuring Technologies Ltd. Meter Register and Remote Meter Reader Utilizing a Stepper Motor
US20130038465A2 (en) * 2008-10-09 2013-02-14 Uk Meter Assets Limited Remote metering device
CN102982672A (zh) * 2012-11-12 2013-03-20 奉化市供电局 一种无线数字信号传输方法和系统
US20130298695A1 (en) * 2012-05-09 2013-11-14 Sensus Spectrum Llc Measuring device with a fluid meter
WO2015089594A1 (fr) * 2013-12-17 2015-06-25 MANGANELLI, Laurindo Dispositif de mesure télémétrique de débit de liquides sans parties mobiles
WO2016205011A1 (fr) * 2015-06-16 2016-12-22 Geospace Technologies Corporation Ensemble antenne/batterie
US9714858B2 (en) 2012-11-21 2017-07-25 Kamstrup A/S Consumption meter housing with feed through for external communication equipment
US10274350B2 (en) 2015-04-02 2019-04-30 Honeywell International Inc. Mobile device and method for meter configuring and data collection
US20210334927A1 (en) * 2020-04-23 2021-10-28 Edison Effect Company Sapi De Cv Fluid delivery, monitoring and control system from supply sources to stationary locations

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2947102B1 (fr) 2009-06-19 2012-01-13 Suez Environnement Antenne gsm, en particulier pour equipement utilisant le reseau public
FR3000797B1 (fr) * 2013-01-07 2015-08-07 Sagemcom Energy & Telecom Sas Dispositif de telereleve de compteur
CN106058428A (zh) * 2016-07-19 2016-10-26 武汉拓宝科技股份有限公司 射频天线及基于该射频天线的井盖检测系统
FR3093810B1 (fr) 2019-03-14 2021-09-10 Grdf Dispositif pour le test d’une interface communicante pour compteur de fluide

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3837521A (en) * 1972-01-10 1974-09-24 R Huston Insulated meter enclosure
US5659300A (en) * 1995-01-30 1997-08-19 Innovatec Corporation Meter for measuring volumetric consumption of a commodity
US20020089428A1 (en) * 1998-09-02 2002-07-11 Brent Walden Utility meter pit lid mounted antenna antenna assembly and method
US6853309B1 (en) * 1999-05-10 2005-02-08 Schroeter Michael Supply meter and method for reading a fixed supply meter

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9101348D0 (en) * 1991-01-22 1991-03-06 North West Water Group Plc Communication
GB2326002A (en) * 1997-06-06 1998-12-09 Centrepoint Technology Limited Remote reading of meters and sensors
WO1999065169A1 (fr) * 1998-06-09 1999-12-16 Abb Power T & D Company Inc. Synchronisation temporelle d'un compteur de reseau public de distribution via un reseau radio

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3837521A (en) * 1972-01-10 1974-09-24 R Huston Insulated meter enclosure
US5659300A (en) * 1995-01-30 1997-08-19 Innovatec Corporation Meter for measuring volumetric consumption of a commodity
US20020089428A1 (en) * 1998-09-02 2002-07-11 Brent Walden Utility meter pit lid mounted antenna antenna assembly and method
US6853309B1 (en) * 1999-05-10 2005-02-08 Schroeter Michael Supply meter and method for reading a fixed supply meter

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100302061A1 (en) * 2003-06-13 2010-12-02 Arad Measuring Technologies Ltd. Meter Register and Remote Meter Reader Utilizing a Stepper Motor
US8157160B2 (en) * 2003-06-13 2012-04-17 Arad Measuring Technologies Ltd. Meter register and remote meter reader utilizing a stepper motor
US8448845B2 (en) 2003-06-13 2013-05-28 Arad Measuring Technologies Ltd. Meter register and remote meter reader utilizing a stepper motor
US20130038465A2 (en) * 2008-10-09 2013-02-14 Uk Meter Assets Limited Remote metering device
US20130298695A1 (en) * 2012-05-09 2013-11-14 Sensus Spectrum Llc Measuring device with a fluid meter
CN102982672A (zh) * 2012-11-12 2013-03-20 奉化市供电局 一种无线数字信号传输方法和系统
US9714858B2 (en) 2012-11-21 2017-07-25 Kamstrup A/S Consumption meter housing with feed through for external communication equipment
WO2015089594A1 (fr) * 2013-12-17 2015-06-25 MANGANELLI, Laurindo Dispositif de mesure télémétrique de débit de liquides sans parties mobiles
US10274350B2 (en) 2015-04-02 2019-04-30 Honeywell International Inc. Mobile device and method for meter configuring and data collection
WO2016205011A1 (fr) * 2015-06-16 2016-12-22 Geospace Technologies Corporation Ensemble antenne/batterie
US20160373840A1 (en) * 2015-06-16 2016-12-22 Geospace Technologies Corporation Antenna battery assembly
US20210334927A1 (en) * 2020-04-23 2021-10-28 Edison Effect Company Sapi De Cv Fluid delivery, monitoring and control system from supply sources to stationary locations
US11941717B2 (en) * 2020-04-23 2024-03-26 Edison Effect Company Sapi De Cv Liquified petroleum gas delivery vehicle comprising remotely controlled and encrypted authorized dispensing to stationary storage tanks

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BRPI0706440A2 (pt) 2011-03-29
JP2009522568A (ja) 2009-06-11
KR20080097398A (ko) 2008-11-05
CA2636502A1 (fr) 2007-07-19
CN101371279A (zh) 2009-02-18
FR2896069A1 (fr) 2007-07-13
WO2007080310A1 (fr) 2007-07-19
FR2896069B1 (fr) 2008-03-14
EP1994515A1 (fr) 2008-11-26
MA30149B1 (fr) 2009-01-02
TNSN08293A1 (fr) 2009-12-29
AU2007204297A1 (en) 2007-07-19
ZA200805611B (en) 2009-11-25

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AS Assignment

Owner name: SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT, FRANCE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GILLETTE, ERIC;GUERQUIN, MARC;REEL/FRAME:022232/0181;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080620 TO 20080625

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION